Python: support (Azure) OpenAI realtime audio models

[moonbox3]

Motivation and Context

As of 2/27/2026, revived the PR, and the latest code is working for both Azure OpenAI realtime models and OpenAI realtime models.

SK has support for realtime-preview models; however, since they've gone to GA we have not added support for the latest library abstractions. This PR brings in the changes to support running models like gpt-realtime-1.5, gpt-realtime, gpt-realtime-mini or gpt-audio.

Description

• Closes Python: Bug: Python - Semantic Kernel Realtime isn't supporting the GA versions of Azure OpenAI realtime models #13267
• Code now relies on openai >= 2.0
• Considered a breaking change due some new config added to the execution settings.

Contribution Checklist

• The code builds clean without any errors or warnings
• The PR follows the SK Contribution Guidelines and the pre-submission formatting script raises no violations
• All unit tests pass, and I have added new tests where possible
• I didn't break anyone 😄

[markwallace-microsoft]

Python Test Coverage Report •

File	Stmts	Miss	Cover	Missing
const.py	7	0	100%
connectors/ai/open_ai
const.py	2	0	100%
connectors/ai/open_ai/prompt_execution_settings
open_ai_realtime_execution_settings.py	50	7	86%	97, 101, 105, 109, 113, 117, 121
connectors/ai/open_ai/services
_open_ai_realtime.py	452	96	78%	288, 290, 292, 329, 384, 392, 436–440, 464–467, 558–559, 562–563, 573, 581–584, 591, 593, 596–597, 647–650, 659–662, 674–675, 719–721, 723–724, 727–728, 731, 742, 744, 746–748, 787–788, 795–797, 816, 823, 828–830, 832–835, 842–844, 852–853, 857–861, 884–885, 890–892, 927, 930, 933–936, 941–943, 946–952
azure_realtime.py	102	61	40%	112–113, 123–127, 148, 163, 168–171, 174–176, 178–180, 182, 190–192, 263–264, 274–279, 285–287, 307, 316, 320–322, 324–325, 332–333, 340, 352, 358–361, 365–367, 369, 371, 373–375, 384–387
connectors/ai/open_ai/settings
open_ai_settings.py	15	0	100%
TOTAL	28230	4876	82%

Python Unit Test Overview

Tests	Skipped	Failures	Errors	Time
3833	23 💤	0 ❌	0 🔥	1m 48s ⏱️

[SimoneMarretta]

@moonbox3 @markwallace-microsoft Is there any news on this pull request? It would be an important feature to have. Thank you!

[bocodigital]

wondering about this too since the preview model is being retired in about a month